It is an object of the present invention to improve reliability of defect management. By providing a plurality of management data areas each including a defect management area typically in a lead-in zone of a disc inner-side region enclosed by a circumference having a predetermined radius on a disc-shaped recording medium, reliability of the defect management can be obtained. In addition, by placing a plurality of the defect management areas (information areas Info1 and Info2) at locations, which are separated from each other in the radial direction of the disc-shaped recording medium, sandwiching a recording/reproduction condition adjustment area OPC having a relatively large size, the reliability of the defect management areas can be further improved. Furthermore, by providing each of the defect management areas with a plurality of recording areas, which include a currently used recording area for recording defect management information and spare recording areas each usable as a substitute for the currently used recording area, the currently used recording area can be replaced with one of the spare recording areas in accordance with an update count of the currently used recording area or error status of this currently used recording area.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A disc-shaped recording medium comprising a recording/reproduction condition adjustment area including test data and a plurality of management data areas each including a defect management area, which are formed in a disc inner-side region enclosed by a circumference having a predetermined radius on said disc-shaped recording medium, wherein said management data areas are placed at locations, which are separated from each other in the radial direction of said disc-shaped recording medium, sandwiching at least said recording/reproduction condition adjustment area.
2. The disc-shaped recording medium according to claim 1 wherein said defect management area has a plurality of recording areas, which include a currently used recording area for recording defect management information and spare recording areas each usable as a substitute for said currently used recording area.
3. A disc recording method for forming a recording/reproduction condition adjustment area including test data and a plurality of management data areas each including a defect management area in a disc inner-side region enclosed by a circumference having a predetermined radius on a disc-shaped recording medium by placing said management data areas at locations, which are separated from each other in the radial direction of said disc-shaped recording medium, sandwiching at least said recording/reproduction condition adjustment area.
4. The disc recording method according to claim 3 wherein said defect management area has a plurality of recording areas, which include a currently used recording area for recording defect management information and spare recording areas each usable as a substitute for said currently used recording area.
5. A disc recording method for recording information onto a disc-shaped recording medium comprising a recording/reproduction condition adjustment area including test data and a plurality of management data areas each including a defect management area, which are formed in a disc inner-side region enclosed by a circumference having a predetermined radius on said disc-shaped recording medium, wherein: said management data areas are placed at locations, which are separated from each other in the radial direction of said disc-shaped recording medium, sandwiching at least said recording/reproduction condition adjustment area; and said defect management area is formed as a region having a plurality of recording areas, which include a currently used recording area for recording defect management information and spare recording areas each usable as a substitute for said currently used recording area, said disc recording method comprising the steps of: determining an update count of said currently used recording area or error status of said currently used recording area in an operation to record said defect management information onto said disc-shaped recording medium to give a determination result to serve as a basis for determining whether or not said defect management information should be recorded in any specific one of said spare recording areas; and setting said specific spare recording area as said substitute for said currently used recording area in case said defect management information is recorded in said specific spare recording area.
6. A disc drive apparatus for recording information onto a disc-shaped recording medium comprising a recording/reproduction condition adjustment area including test data and a plurality of management data areas each including a defect management area, which are formed in a disc inner-side region enclosed by a circumference having a predetermined radius on said disc-shaped recording medium, wherein: said management data areas are placed at locations, which are separated from each other in the radial direction of said disc-shaped recording medium, sandwiching at least said recording/reproduction condition adjustment area; and said defect management area has a plurality of recording areas, which include a currently used recording area for recording defect management information and spare recording areas each usable as a substitute for said currently used recording area, said disc drive apparatus comprising recording means for recording and reproducing said information onto and from said disc-shaped recording medium and control means for: determining an update count of said currently used recording area or error status of said currently used recording area in an operation to record said defect management information onto said disc-shaped recording medium to give a determination to serve as a basis for determining whether or not said defect management information should be recorded in any specific one of said spare recording areas; and recording management data for setting said specific spare recording area as said substitute for said currently used recording area in case said defect management information is recorded in said specific spare recording area.
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June 4, 2003
December 25, 2007
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